SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-MARCH 2007

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000358

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SECSTATE FOR PM AND ISP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MCAP KCFE XG AM
SUBJECT: SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-MARCH 2007


1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: ODC Armenia conducted Bilateral Country
Planning Conference in Yerevan; LOA for AM-B-UAB Harris radio case
for 12th Peacekeeping BN signed and returned 27 Mar; LOA for
AM-B-OAA blanket training case signed and returned 27 Mar. New
Budget Analyst/Admin Assistant hired.


2. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS


A. ODC Armenia conducted its first Bilateral Country Planning
Conference (BCPC) in Yerevan, Armenia from 13-15 Mar. The event set
plans and events for FY08 for Foreign Military Financing (FMF),
International Military Education and Training (IMET),Joint Contact
Team Program (JCTP),Defense Institution Building (funded by Warsaw
Initiative Funds [WIF]),State Partnership Program (SPP),and also
addressed potential projects, events, and funding from the Marshall
Center, Humanitarian De-mining, and Counter Terrorism Fellowship
Program (CTFP). In attendance was Ms Anne Gebhards (OSD-ASP),Ms
Diane Lamb (DSCA),Mr Bill Turner (USASAC),LtCol Nelson (SAF-IA),
Maj Hogan (ECJ5-E),Ms Sandra Shurman (ECJ5-E),Mr Terry Stenger
(ECJ4-ID),COL Davis (KSNG),Maj Stevens (KSNG),LtCol Girard (MFE),
and Mr Jose Gabilondo (USAFE). The US DATT to Armenia COL Grimley as
well as ODC Armenia personnel attended. The Armenian MOD's
delegation for the out-brief was attended by General-Majors
Melkonyan and Kotanjyan, and Gen Melkonyan's staff from
International Military Cooperation and Defense Programs Office, led
by Col Abrahamyan. The BCPC determined that US security assistance
in FY08 will be directed to supporting Defense Institution Building
goals set forth in the ARM IPAP, to supporting and sustaining the
ARM Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS) capability, and to
developing ARM Peacekeeping forces from the 12th PK Bn and the new
PK Brigade. Additional assistance and support will be provided to
assist the ARM government as it develops its crisis response
capabilities. All presentations for the BCPC were forwarded to the
participants and key SA/SC offices at EUCOM, OSD, and the Joint
Staff.


B. STATUS OF FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING (FMF):

1. The Letter of Agreement (LOA) for the FMF case amendment
to AM-B-UAB: 12th PK Battalion Harris radios, arrived and was
provided to the MOD on 15 Mar. The LOA was signed and returned to
the ODC on 27 Mar. The LOA was immediately forwarded to USASAC and
DSCA

2. The LOA for a Blanket FMF Army training case: AM-B-OAA was
received and provided to the ARM MOD on 15 Mar 07. LOA was signed by
the MOD and returned to the ODC on 27 Mar and immediately forwarded
to DSCA and SATFA.

3. Equipment ordered for the 12th Peacekeeping Battalion in
the small FMF AM-B-BAA case established in FY06 arrived between 9-18
Feb 07. USASAC is following-up on shortages discovered in the MOD
inventory of that shipment.

3. ODC is awaiting the LOA for the blanket personnel
equipment case for excess equipment provided by the Defense
Reutilization Management Office(DRMO)sent out on 2 Feb 07.


F. Joint Contact Team Program (JCTP). Two JCTP events were
conducted in March. The annual Bilateral Country Planning Conference
(BCPC) was attended by representatives from MARFOREUR, USAFE, and
the Kansas National Guard. A total of 22 Mil-to-Mil events were
presented and will be submitted for approval for completion in FY

08. The events will focus on deployability and sustainability of
EMEDS as well as familiarization for various sections of the 12th PK
BN. Fifteen Armenian soldiers representing various logistics
services within the Armenian Army attended Logistics Doctrine and
Development (TCT). The event was conducted by a team from
MARFOREUR. The event focused on tactical, operational and strategic
logistic doctrine. Also discussed were tactics, techniques and
procedures for logistics operations at battalion and brigade levels.
A follow-on event focusing on battalion and brigade logistics
during peacekeeping operations will be conducted by the Kansas Army
National Guard in FY 08.


G. State Partnership Program (SPP). Kansas proposed two
Mil-to-Civ and one Civ-to-Civ SPP events for FY 08 during the BCPC.
One event will focus on helping the Armenian Rescue Service (ARS)
develop their emergency response capabilities. A second event will
focus on public health issues within Armenia. The final event will
be follow-on to an event held in FY 06 and focus on developing
vocational-technical schools within Armenia. No SPP events were
conducted in March. Coordination continued between Kansas and the
Armenian Rescue Service (ARS) on developing follow-on events to the
Crisis First Responder event held in October. Funding has been
received to conduct Crisis Communications TCT. The event is
currently scheduled for 4th Quarter.


H. Humanitarian Assistance (HA). No additional HA events have
been submitted. Two previously submitted projects have received
approval, but not funding. The stand-alone HA event proposes to
reconstruct existing water wells in two rural villages in Armenia
where the current water system has deteriorated to a degree that
potable water is seldom available. This proposal was coordinated
with USAID and a local NGO. The second event is for medical
supplies and support during an HA related Mil-to-Mil event. This
event will bring a dentist and optometrist from the Kansas National
Guard to Armenia to work with two Armenian Military doctors to
provide services to rural areas in Armenia. Additionally the ODC
submitted two EP requests. One request is to supply two affiliated
orphanages for disabled children with furniture and school
equipment. The second request is to supply the same items for a
boarding school for children with disabilities. Approval of these
two requests is pending.


I. International Military Education and Training (IMET):
English Language testing and number of IMET students in US.


1. Training Snapshot
Students at DLI: 14
Students at Specialty Training: 9
E-IMET: 1


2. English Comprehension Level (ECL) Testing
Students tested: 4
Highest Score - 80
Lowest Score - 38
Average Score - 58


3. PERSONNEL/RESOURCES/LOGISTICS


A. GAINS: None.


B. LOSSES: None.


C. ATTACHED PERSONNEL (TDY):


D. APPROVED LEAVES NEXT 30 DAYS: LTC Moyer 25-29 Mar 07


E. TDY NEXT 30 DAYS:
LTC Peterson, Medical TDY to Landstuhl; 28-30 Mar
LTC Peterson, EUCOM TPMR in Grainau, Germnay; 22-
27 Apr
LTC Peterson, EUM inspection, Northern Armenia;
2-4 May (tentative)


F. RATING SCHEME CHANGES: None.


G. EXTENSIONS/CURTAILMENTS: None.


5. ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES:


A. EFFICIENCY REPORT SUSPENSES: None


B. AWARD SUSPENSES: None.


C. PERSONNEL ACTIONS: Ms Annahit Hovhannissian; new Budget
Analyst/Admin Assistant has been hired and will begin work the first
week of Apr 07.


6. ODC CHIEF'S COMMENTS:


A. None


7. POC for this message is LTC Doug Peterson.

37410-49-46-65
37410-46-47-36(fax)
petersond@state.gov

GODFREY